“DOUBT”
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
New England Repertory Company’s current show
is “Doubt”, John Patrick Shanley’s 2005 Tony Award, Drama
Desk Award and Pulitzer Prize winning drama. The play is set in the fictional
St. Nicholas Church School, in the Bronx, in 1964. It opens with a sermon by
Father Flynn, a beloved and progressive priest, addressing the importance of
uncertainty, doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.
Sister Mary Aloysius, a rigidly conservative nun vowed to the order of the
Sisters of Charity, insists on constant vigilance. Aloysius and Father Flynn
are put into direct conflict when she learns from Sister James that the priest
had a one on one meeting with Donald Muller, St. Nicholas’ first black student.
Mysterious circumstances lead her to believe that sexual misconduct occurred.
In a meeting supposedly regarding the Christmas pageant, Aloysius, in front of
Sister James, confronts Flynn with her suspicions. He angrily denies
wrong-doing but Aloysius is unsatisfied with Flynn’s story. Directed
excellently by Mike Kiernan, he obtains stunning performances from
his fantastic four member cast. The unit set is by Bruce Church, Alan
Conway, Bruce Goldman, Luke Oliver Lawson, Martin Richards and Steven Temple.
The cast moves the audience to laughter and tears at all the appropriate
moments and they win a resounding standing ovation.
In “Doubt” the supposed victim, Donald Muller is
the first African-American boy admitted to the all white St. Nicholas
School. The doubt versus the certainty theme’s broader significance is
underscored by having the story unfold during the turbulent 1960’s, right after
John Kennedy’s assassination and the second Vatican Council where the Latin
Mass was changed into English. There is only one suspect priest and although he
might be guilty, it is not an open and shut, beyond a shadow of a
doubt case. The audience must decide who they believe. In fact, Father
Flynn is a more sympathetic character than Sister Aloysius, the self righteous
nun who believes he is a danger to the eighth grade boys. She rules the school
with an iron fist hand and runs roughshod over Sister James, a novice teacher.
Her hair raising scenes with Father Flynn, Sister James and Mrs. Muller are
fabulous and the mother’s contradictory beliefs about her son’s inclinations
and the separate paths she and Aloysius seek become clear. The nun is a
formidable woman whose veneer begins to crack when the angry mother stands up
to her and the audience obtains the dimension needed for the play in this
scene.
The show is presented in two acts and the ninety minutes fly
right by with the wit and intensity of this talented cast. Michael fleshes out
all the characters especially Sister James, giving her more depth and dimension
to the role. Beth Goldman is fantastic as Sister Aloysius. She gives this
character the depth it needs whether she is berating Flynn for having long
finger nails, liking secular songs at the Christmas pageant and using a ball
point pen, running rough shod over Sister James or arguing with Mrs. Muller.
Beth’s acting prowess shines through as this strict, martinet principal. She
delves into the core of this unbending woman, giving her the humanity she needs
when she is brought to tears by admitting her doubt to Sister James in the
final scene. This nun seemed to be ahead of her time. Bruce Church is excellent
as Father Flynn. He is very charismatic and displays his acting chops
throughout the show especially in his first sermon on doubt and in his second
sermon on intolerance after his first confrontation with Sister Aloysius. Bruce
gives this priest the compassion it needs to enthrall the audience and his last
scene with Beth is electrifying.
The third performer in the show is Adreyanua Jean-Louis as Sister
James, the novice teaching nun. She is brilliant as this young nun.
She trembles under the questioning by the older nun and then agrees
willingly to find something sinister in the relationship between the priest and
the eighth grade boys. Her youthful fervor is one of the ugly situation’s
casualties. However the way she deals with this loss of innocence adds power to
the play. Adreyanua has many strong scenes with Beth and Bruce. She
plays the role on many different levels, giving her more than a one dimensional
character. Jeanette Lake Jackson plays Donald’s mother, Mrs. Muller.
She shines in this role, displaying her strong acting ability. It was unheard
of back in 1964 to stand up to a strong willed nun but these circumstances
definitely call for it. Her scene with Sister Aloysius crackles with
intensity and power. So for an intelligent, well written and directed show, be
sure to catch “Doubt” at New England Repertory Company. Tell them
Tony sent you. It will definitely captivate you from start to finish.
DOUBT (12 to 20 January)
New England Repertory Company, Temple Sinai, 25 Canton Street,
Sharon, MA
1(781)269-9866 or www.newenglandrep.org
